Comment Archives: Locations: Culture & Entertainment

I had to run some errands and, as it happened, got to the theater 20 minutes early. Not knowing better I went inside expecting to spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation. Unbelievably, full-screen TV commercials were screaming at the audience. I walked the halls to avoid hearing loss until the movie was ready to start and then sat through 15 minutes of previews. When the movie finally started the sound volume was about as loud as I could stand and the sound coming from the next theater was loud enough to follow the story there, too.

I have been a regular patron of Margarita Bay for almost 10 years. First and foremost, this is one of the best, if not the best location in Tucson to sign karaoke. Karaoke is available every evening, and each of the KJs (there are 3 spread across each week) knows what they are doing, and is very consistent in maintaining the "rotation" of singers, including judiciously mixing in new arrivals throughout the evening. If you have come to sing, you will get your chance. Depending on the night and the number of karaoke singers before you (and note that if you are a new arrival you do get inserted to the rotation immediately after the most immediately prior arrivals have had their first opportunity) you will get to sing as soon as is possible. Bar offers a wide variety of beverage from a good mix of draft and bottled bear, to other liquors and mixed drinks to a selection of better wines by the glass or bottle. Bartenders are expert at their craft, and without exception know how to maintain a crowd. With all of the above considered, consistently my favorite feature is the the wide mix and background of the crowd. Without exception, when you walk into the "Bay" you leave the outside world behind, and are there to enjoy an evening with a great collection of friends and acquaintences who are there for the same reason you are, to have a great evening, and for many to sing a song or two. I am a great fan of the Bay and expect to be for many years to come.

The Sunday Brunch and Music Series at Monterey Court is fantastic! Great food and the best of local and touring acoustic artists start your week off perfectly. Hosted by local artist, Nancy Elliott, with a guest performer every week.

Thirsty" had the best Karaoke in town on Thursdays from 9:00 pm to 2:00 AM with Ynot Karaoke and some great DJ's.
I was very sorry to see Karaoke discontinued over a year ago now it seems.
Their food was always good. I especially recommend their soups and the shoe-string fries. I don't know if they have the same cook. If they do, you can always get a good meal.

Apparently, don't ever go there on Thursday. We tried tonight but there was someone playing about the worst thing to ever claim to be music about 5 times too loud. We ran away quick enough thank god. You'd think the fact that there wasn't one person at this usually busy bar, except those willing to huddle on the patio with hands clenched to ears, would raise a few flags with management. Too bad. Usually this is a great place, except when certain bartenders at working. But that's a story for you to discover for yourself. Good luck.

If you are a blonde, Mauricio is your man!! He is hella talented when it comes to color. Plus, he goes the extra mile to correct your color the right way not just half a$$. He wants you looking good and feeling confident when you leave his salon. Also, having extensions… He saved me money. My previous stylist, (at a totally different salon), told me I could not reuse them. Mauricio took one look and said, "of course you can!" Then went on to properly educate me about extensions. It’s rare to find a stylist who will not try to take advantage. Mauricio is a true gem and my hair will be forever thankful.

This place was NOT good. We had about 24 members of the USS ARIZONA PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR ASSOCIATION observing the December 7 anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. We did have one survivor with us (only 7 are still alive). The "show" was surreal and corny. Most of us pushed full plates of food back, uneaten. For this our group payed $1000.
This is my opinion and not necessarily the position of our association. I gave it one star because there was not a zero star option.

Fred's is a long drive from Tucson, off Sierrita Mountain Rd. and not so easy to find, but worth the effort. It's nothing fancy - just an old-school steakhouse with good food and a great, out-in-the-country atmosphere. The beef is the best thing to order on the menu. Fred's has a roping arena and also stores a lot of the rolling stock used in the Rodeo Parade. We have been going to Fred's for over 30 years, even though we no longer live in Tucson. It's a taste of what Tucson was like before the population explosion.

I just wanna start off saying, I love the bay. I love going their and singing my heart out when I can... It's my neighborhood bar, and I go there as often as I can. That being said, lemme tell you all about my experience tonight.

First off, I'd like to start by saying that the regular bartenders and karaoke dj are very much biased to sexual orientation. This being a bar, I would normally understand. Except for tonight, when apparently a customer of the male persuasion, happened to see a female customer whom he had a restraining order against. Upon seeing said patron, the male customer did as the restraining order suggested, and called the police. Not my first reaction to an ex, as I would have just left, but nonetheless still his reaction. Anyway, the cops showed up...

Now let me make it clear, I DO NOT KNOW EITHER PARTY INVOLVED. I just happened to be standing at the rear gate when 3 tpd officers arrived. They then had a short conversation with the owner Dennis, whom also, I had never met. They asked him directly if he knew what was going on. To which he replied, no, then he admitted that he did have knowledge of a restraining order issue that was being handled. At that point, one of his waitresses, said that yes, she was hiding in the bathroom, and she was leaving. I, having nothing to do with either party just sat there, enjoying my drink and the night.

Later, when I happened outside again, I saw the bartender ( an older lady with a puffed up hair do and bad makeup) and the karaoke dj argueing with the male patrons friends on why he had to leave, did I mention that I had been there when tpd had said that the girl had to leave. That they wouldn't be charging the male and also letting him go back into the bar. Suddenly, I was an issue too. I told them that I didn't want any trouble, but rather that I was just stating the truth. I truly was just telling the truth, not thinking anything else about it.

I then went back inside to check on my song selection, considering that it had been over 2 hours since my last song, only to be told that because I had the audacity to tell the truth, I was done singing for the rest of the night. When I asked why, I was told that "it was because I couldn't shut my mouth". I then stated that I had only told the truth, and that I didn't wanna start shit, but that IS what the officer said. At that point the karaoke dj told me that I was cut off and was about to get kicked out. At that, I began questioning why. I can admit (mainly because I am NOT a liar, and I had had 2 and a half beers) that I did get upset, and I did raise my voice. I said "why would you kick me out for telling the truth? " and "that IS what the officer said" over and over. Suddenly someone said that I was starting shit with the dj. I told them that they were very wrong, but that I just didn't understand why I was being persecuted for telling the truth. At which point I was grabbed by a customer and started to get escorted out by force. During my forced exit, I saw the dj talk to another patron, who then also got in my face saying that I had tried to hit said dj. He then proceeded to follow me out threatening me that if I ever came back there he would "kick my ass". Now, I can admit, that yes, at this point I went from upset to pissed off, and I also began to talk shit back. Telling the old man that I would love the chance to kick his ass back. Truthfully though the guy was so old that I was almost afraid that he might have had a heart attack in the parking lot... and no, of course, it wasn't Dennis the owner. Just some jackass friend of the dj not really knowing what was going on, but still their to defend his girl.

My point is, after all of that, obviously I wasn't drunk because I am writing this as I walk home. Obviously, the owner, Dennis, should have let the rest of the staff know what tpd said before leaving the premises . Obviously, I should not have been persecuted for telling the truth. And obviously, I will never be back here. Which is a sad statement, because I truly did enjoy the place until now. I will also be letting every single person I know, and come into contact with, know what happened to me here. On every single site, and blog I can find. Plus, because I personally know of many times they have served to people they shouldn't, and over poured to regulars. And because I live directly across the street, I will be calling the police every time I see anything that looks like it could be fucked up until I get them closed down... I promise.

The art is so beautiful, the staff is friendly, the gallery is nice and cool, and the art is priced to sell fast. It is smart to buy a painting here now because the paintings value will go up really fast in the near future. I bought several Ben and Johnny Impossible paintings, they are my favorite! I love SecretArtwork.com !